Trace-holder.



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G LAUBE QTRAcE HOLDER. (Application filed Apr. 28,1900.)

(No Model.)

"Tn: noams PETERS w. mow-umq. wAsmimTuu, n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

eonrmnn LAUBE, or HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO 0. T. GREGORY, or PADUOAH, KENTUCKY.

TRACE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,653, dated July 31, I900.

Application filed April 28, 1900. Serial No, 14,673 (No model.)

To a'ZZ whom .it may concern:

Be it known that I, GODFRIED LAUBE, a citi zen of the United States of America, residing at Huron, in the county of Beadleand State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompany ing drawings.

This invention relates-to new and useful improvements in trace-holders; and has for its object to produce a novel device of this character that can be easily attached to and used-in connection with whiftletrees of different forms and sizes, and, furthermore,to provide novel means whereby the trace is heldin position and prevented from; becoming loose and slipping from side to side.

Finally, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character noted that will prove simple in structure, strong, durable, and efficient in practice, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

WVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

In describing the invention in detailrefen,

ence'will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in whichi Figure 1 is aview in perspective of a portion of a Whiflietree and trace, showing the invention in use. Fig.2 is the same as Fig- 1, except the hook being shown as raised; and Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective, showing the invention applied to whiflietrees and traces of modified form.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a Whiffietree. of any ordinary construction, being adapted to receive a trace 2.

3 is a long hollow casing having its top surface inclined in a straight'line. This casing is secured to the whiffletreein-any suitable manner, but preferably by screws passing through the inner end of the casing and en gaging the whiffletreel The loweredges of the sides of the casing are serrated, as at 4, said serrations being adapted to engage the surface of the whifiietree and prevent the cas ing from moving or slipping from side to side. The upper surface of the casin g is suitably recessed, and within this recess, between the -ing and its opposite end being adapted to bear against the base of the hook. From an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that the hook proper is of such shape as to embrace the trace and hold it securely in position. It will also be noted that by having the hook of greater length than those commonly employed a holder of this character can easily be applied to whifitletrees having metallic tips, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When used in connection with metallic tips, a shank 8, having a T-shaped head 9, is employed, said shank being embedded in' the end of the whiffletree, and the T-shaped head is in such relation to the hook of the trace holder as to allow the end of the hook of the trace-holder to engage the shank at the junction of the head, sothat the trace will lie between, the end of the hook and theedge of the whiffletree. V l I The operation of the device will, itis thought, be understood by those familiar with the art.

It is obvious that changes maybe made in the proportions and the details of construction that fairly fall within the scope of the invention. I

' Having thus fully described my invent-ion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a long hollow casing having the lower edge of its sides serrated, and its upper surface inclined in a straight line, a hook pivoted in the outer end of the casing, an extension formed with said hook and having its under surface grooved, and a flat spring suitably secured in the casing and adapted to bear against the baseof the hook.

2. In a whiffletree, the combination of a long hollow casing having the lower edge of its-sides serrated and asuitable hook pivoted In testimony whereof I affix my signature therein, of a. shank embedded in the end of in the presence of two Witnesses. the whiflietree said shank havin a. T-shaped head, said head being in such re lation to the GODFRIED LAUBE' 5 hook as to allow the end of the hook to en- Witnesses: gage the shank at the junction of the head, HATTIE ROSE LAUBE,

as and for the purpose described. S. P. BECK. 

